"And these will go away into eternal correction, but the righteous into eternal life.” - Matt. 25:46
The synonymous Hebrew and Greek words translated as eternal in passages like the above simply mean a long duration or long lasting. Rotherham’s literal translation always translates the words as age abiding. This makes sense. While eternity is a long duration there are other periods of time that are long lasting as well. Being in the belly of a fish for 3 days and 3 nights is a long time. Notice that the passage that describes the time frame of Jonah’s 3 day and 3 night stay in the belly of a fish is the word translated as eternal. The words in Hebrew and Greek simply mean long lasting or a long duration. It doesn’t specify how long. Only that it is a long time period. It doesn’t have to be the same in every instance. The above scripture would be better translated this way:
"And these will go away into long lasting correction, but the righteous into long lasting life.” - Matt. 25:46
I got my definitions of the word as indefinite duration from the back of Rotherham’s literal translation of the Bible. He notes that the word can mean “age” but this isn’t the primary definition. The word means indefinite duration. He also notes that this word comes from the Hebrew Olam. Olam is the Greek word’s parent term. A quick look in the Strongest NASB Exhaustive concordance reveals that the first, main, and primary definition Olam is “long duration”. The Greek word is used to translate Olam.
The point of the Greek and Hebrew terms that are used is that it’s a long duration. It doesn’t specify how long. Even when applied to God. A good study of the words as they are used in the Bible show this:
Sodom is destroyed with long lasting fire
God is the long lasting God
The hills and mountains are long lasting
A man is said to be a slave for a long time
To be in a belly of a fish for three days and nights is a long time
The word itself doesn’t mean forever or eternal but eternity is long lasting. The words indicate a long duration of unspecified length. Hence, Rotherham’s Literal Translation translates it as age-abiding. In these contexts it is long lasting or a long duration.
Nice post; well done.